Monday, January 31, 2011

Two Mounties In The House Now.

Today is the first day back to school for most children here in New Zealand, after there summer holidays.
Both Savannah and Samuel were back today and Darian goes back on Wednesday.
For Savannah it's her first day a Mountain View High School, kids that go to Mountain View are known as 'Mounties'.
 Off course I had the camera out (don't we all), she looks very smart in her uniform.
It's a nice uniform, the skirt is nice. No heavy kilt like in my days at high school.
 They had to wear full uniform today. 
She was very keen to start High School, a new chapter in her life.
She is growing into a very nice young lady, she turns 13 this coming weekend.
We are loving the special times we have with her.
 Off she goes, no she doesn't walk, I took her today and she will bike from now on.
I wanted the photo, so I can Scrapbook it.
 Outside the school.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Fun Day Crafting Together

Today Savannah and me have had a day crafting together, it has been fantastic.
 We have been making her birthday invites.
 We used a tutorial that I got while doing We Stamp For Lara.
Leonie Schroder designed this Pocket Pull Card. Go and look at Leonie Blog, she does beautiful work.
 We used 'Island Oasis' DSP and the 2 Step Owl Punch. 
 We used level 1 hostess 'Birthday Bakery' Stamp Sets.
If you would like to earn this set  and more goodies contact me and book a workshop.
 This owl is so sweet, I got this punch just before Christmas and this is the first time I have used it.
I will be having another play with this, I have seen lots of different uses of this punch, so watch this space.
This wee stamp is from 'On Your Birthday' set.
Savannah is turning 13 early next month. The invites look great.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Flax Flowers

On Thursday afternoon Samuel, Savannah and me visited Mrs Herd (teacher aid at school).
Samuel watched a Thomas video, and Joy showed Savannah and me how to weave flax flowers.
 Since then Savannah and Jessica (cousin) went to the park and got more flax, Jessica showed Savannah how to made a different flax flower.
Savannah has been so keen she has done a google search to find some more flax projects.
So there has been a hive of activity weaving flax.
Here's a vase I got for Christmas, my family have been quite rude about it and saying that they are test tubes and asking were is my bunsen burner. 
Now I have put flax flowers into it.
Thanks Joy.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

15 Candles

Tonight we have celebrated Darian's birthday, with family from Christchurch and friends.
 Here's his ice cream cake, he asked me to make him a Minecraft Cube (computer game).
 This is a really nice photo of Darian.
Blowing out his candles. 1 girlfriend this year, 1 candle still alight. 

Friday, January 21, 2011

Finished

I have finished Darian's school books.
I have used 'Sentimental Journey" Stamp Set, the colours I used were Cherry Cobbler, Alway Artichoke, Night of Navy and Soft Suede.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Happy Birthday Darian

Today is Darian's 15th Birthday.
Here is his card.
 I cased this from Ilina Crouse, click here to see her card.
 I have changed some of the stamps.
I have used 'Sentimental Journeys' Stamp Set, this is a fantastic set.
Great for men's cards travel layouts to name a couple.
 I used 'Word Play' Stamp Set for the sentiment.
Inside the card I used Level 1 Stamp Set 'Afterthoughts'.
The DSP is from Summer Mini Catalogue 'Travel Journal'.
 This is another card, from the same sheet of DSP but along a bit.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Gum Anyone?

Here in New Zealand we are only 2 weeks away from school going back.
I love the holidays spending time with the kids with no routines, lazy summer days reading, playing at the park, walking in the reserve, playing at the beach and catching up with friends and family.
On Friday we went into town a got all the school books, since then the labeller has been busy labelling pens, pencil and books etc. 
I think the labeller was my best purchase (a few years back now) for this task, it's so much easier to use the labeller to name pencils and pens. Also you can buy fabric tape for labelling uniforms and clothing etc then you iron them on.
Here's Samuel's books.
I have used 'Something Sweet' Stamp Set.
I stamped on to computer paper them covered the book with it, then covered it with clear coverseal.
There's a lot of work involved, but the end result is well worth it.
He was really thrilled with them.
I used Wild Wasabi, Blushing Bride, Peach Parfait, Poppy Parade and Concord Crush Ink.
Here's Savannah's books.
For her books we used Christmas Wrapping Paper that we bought very cheaply after Christmas in the sales.
We have used 2 differant papers, they are beautiful papers which don't cry out Christmas. I had bought them to use a paper through out the year for birthdays etc, now I'm wishing I had bought more.
I was going to used the 'Avairy' Stamp Set, I think it would have been very stunning.
I still have Darians book's to do, I will have a detour to do, then I will be back to show you.
I will be using a Stamp Set from the Summer Mini Catalogue.
I have to go and make Darian's Birthday cake now and get in the freezer.
Bye for now.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Inside Story

Samuel wanted to make Jacob's birthday card, so we came to an agreement that I would do the outside which I blogged HERE and he would do the inside and the wrapping paper to match.
 Here's Samuel writing in the card.
 He chose the colours and had fun creating.
 Here's the wrapping paper and envelope.
Samuel had a great time at the party as did all the kids.
Yesterday we had a picnic at Caroline Bay, with a few families from church, we had a fab time.
It was very hot, the kids swam and the adults had chance to catch up.
Here is a few photos of the Miniature Ponies that were there yesterday.
2 weeks today the kids will be back at school, I'm in the middle of covering the books.
I will be back to show you them soon.
Have a great day.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Jacob's Birthday Card

Yesterday I showed you Jacob's present, today I have made his Birthday Card.
Jacob is 5 on Sunday, he is having his party tomorrow at the South Canterbury Model Engineers Club.
So I have used the Choo Choo Stamp Set.
The card is nearly a complete CASE of Anne Marie Hile, which I found in the Splitcoaststampers gallery.
Go and check Anne Marie Blog HERE, it's well worth a look.
Have a great weekend.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Pencil Cases and Reading Folders

Today I have been sewing reading folders and a pencil case.
This is Samuel's reading folder, he is Thomas the Tank Engine mad.
Samuel's friend Jacob has his 5th Birthday on Sunday, so here is the reading folder and pencil case I have made for him, we will fill the pencil case with supplies.
Tomorrow I will be back with the card.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Thinking of You

Just before the end of last year, a friend of ours passed away.
So here is the card that I have made for Noeleen.
 Mary Fish has a video tutorial to make this vase, it's so cool using the bird stamp in Punch Potpourri Level 1 hostess set. I know I would have never thought off it. 
This is the inside of the card. The other Stamp Set that I have used is also a Level 1 Hostess Set called Silhoutte Sentiments, I uesd Poppy Parade and Pear Pizzazz Marker directly onto the stamp.
I also used Mary Fish's No Slide Ribbon Tutorial.
Thanks Mary for all your inspiration.
Supplies List.
Stamp Sets: Thoughts and Prayers, Silhoutte Sentiments and Punch Potpourri both Level 1 Hostess Sets.
Card Stock: Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz and Whisper White.
Inks: Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz, Poppy Parade Marker and Pear Pizzazz Marker.
Punches: Word Window, Large Oval and 1 1/4" Circle.
Extras: Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Old Olive 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sponges and Basic Rhinestones Jewels.
Contact me to book a workshop so you can earn these Stamp Sets.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Creative Sketches

Here is one of the cards that I had to get made.
It is a Belated Birthday Card, but its better late than never.
I have used Creative Sketch Challenge CS14 sketch.
 I liked this sketch straight away and knew what I would do.
I had been blog hopping and came across Mary Fish's blog and liked how she had used the Top Note Die so I have copied her idea. Go Check her blog she as lots of video tutorials a must look.
I decided that I would do a monochrome card using Concord Crush and Whisper White.
I have used 'Baroque Motifs" I love this stamp set, with Concord Crush and Frost White Shimmer Paint.
I am enjoying using the new Square Lattice Embossing Folder out of the Summer Mini Catalogue.

Supplies List
Stamp Set: Baroque Motifs.
Card Stock: Concord Crush and Whisper White.
Ink: Concord Crush.
Punches: Word Window, 1 3/4" Scallop Circle and 1 1/4" Circle.
Extras: Big Shot, Top Note Die, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Beautiful Wings Embosslits, Basic Rhinestone Jewels, White Frost Shimmer Paint and Stampin' Dimensionals.
I will be back tomorrow the another card.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

In a Pickle

Today has been wet here in Timaru, so the kids have been watching DVDs and I have been in a pickle.
I drove to Temuka this morning and bought 15kg of Tomatoes and Blackberries for Jam.
Here's just some of them.
There is 2kgs in the ice cream container for Relish and in the Box there is 6kg for Soup.
4 Jars of Relish, it is very tasty with a bit of a kick, might have something to do with the Chillies in it.
Here's the soup which I will freeze for the winter.
In the stockpot is Tomato Sauce boiling away, Darian (nearly 15 year old son) was not looking forward to the sauce as the last time I made (at least 4 years ago) it he didn't like it, but we have friends who will only buy Watties and they loved it. He tried it this afternoon as it was cooking and said he liked it, isn't it funny how our taste buds change as we get older.
In the smaller pot is the Blackberry Jam.
I got 7 1/2 bottles of Tomato Sauce, 5 1/2 jars of Blackberry Jam and 3 Jars of Bottled Beetroot which I did first thing this morning.
It was a great day to get all this done as it wasn't too hot.
Tomorrow I'm going to have a go at making my own Dishwasher Powder and Washing Powder, I got the recipes from 'Barrel Talk' Bin Inn Magazine, go check out the recipes online.
I also have to get 2 cards made tomorrow.
See you then.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Day in the Garden

Today is Paul's (DH) last day holiday, he is back to work tomorrow.
So we spent the afternoon in the garden, weeding and Harvesting.
 I will be blanching Cauliflower and bottling Beetroot.
 We have been eating Salad Veges for sometime now and our Broccoli was delicous.
 The Corn, Red Cabbages and Potatoes are coming along nicely.